Goal: Promote and expand the use and knowledge of genetics as a risk factor for cancer.
Genetic counseling is an essential service for identifying individuals at increased risk of genetically driven cancer and can help guide clinical decisions. This can include evaluating family history to determine the likelihood of cancer, guiding a patient on the benefits and limitations of genetic testing, and engaging providers to establish a risk-based screening plan for patients.
Access to genetic counseling in Nevada is limited, but recent state legislation to establish licensure for genetic counselors shows promise that this field of healthcare will expand. Along with licensure, opportunities to improve the use of genetics to assess cancer risk must be coupled with policy change to expand insurance coverage for genetic screening and counseling, provider and patient education, systems change to ensure family history is collected and documented, workforce development to ensure genetic counselors are available, and telehealth integration to ensure access for those living in rural or underserved communities.
| Type of Genetic Mutation | Mechanism | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Tumor suppressor gene mutations | Disable cellular repair mechanisms | BRCA1/2, TP53 |
| Oncogene activation | Drive uncontrolled cell growth | HER2 |
| DNA repair gene defects | Allows mutations to accumulate | Lynch Syndrome |
Objective: Increase access to genetic counseling in Nevada.
Strategies:
- Promote evidence-based practices for genetic testing and counseling across the cancer continuum.
- Support development of genetic counseling training programs in Nevada.
- Assess Nevada health insurance coverage for genetic counseling and genetic testing by comparing Nevada health plan policies.
- Support policies to increase access to genetic testing and counseling services in Nevada.
Objective: Expand public and provider awareness of genetic counseling and testing.
Strategies:
- Educate Nevadans on the importance of understanding family history of cancer and sharing that information with healthcare providers.
- Educate healthcare providers on the importance of collecting family cancer history and how that information can be used.
- Work with the Healthy Nevada Project to publish cancer data and reports.
Indicators
| Number of reports on genetic counseling and testing coverage. | Number of educational resources for Nevadans. | Number of educational opportunities for healthcare providers. |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline: 0 | Baseline: 0 | Baseline: 1 |
| Target: 1 | Target: 1 | Target: 2 |
References
lix National Cancer Institute. "Cancer Genetics Risk Assessment and Counseling (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version." Accessed 14 May 2025, https://www.cancer.gov/publications/pdq/information-summaries/genetics/risk-assessment-hp-pdq#top.